Land designation for farming urged

There may be an immediate need for the government to designate lands for the sole purpose of farming in order to develop the agriculture potentials of the CNMI.

The limited availability of lands in the CNMI should prompt the government to earmark areas that will be exclusively used for farming to encourage agriculture development.

“This will help provide more food production areas which will hopefully minimize importation,” government officials said.

A report from the Division of Public Lands (DPL) disclosed that 51 percent, or 6,200 hectares, of Saipan’s total land measurement has been classified as privately owned. Only 1,700 hectares of public lands are presently available.

An agriculture subcommittee created by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has recommended the evaluation of wet land areas in Chalan Kanoa, Susupe and Tanapag by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).

The committee stressed the need to determine the feasibility of leasing the area to private farmers for purposes of developing food production. His subcommittee also recommended that the area be given a blanket permit for agriculture and aquaculture production.

DLNR has been asked to coordinate the permitting process with other government agencies involved in such an activity.

At the same time, the agriculture subcommittee noted the importance of evaluating the possibility of reserving farm sites in Kagman, Calabera, Rota Sabana Farm Plot, and Tinian Marpo Farm Plot.

It said the government may try to lease back some areas from the military then re-lease to local farmers. He added that land fees for Kagman agricultural farm areas should be increased to discourage inefficient cultivation and to encourage more serious commercial farming.

“This will help discourage the present practice of subleasing especially to foreigners in these designated local farming areas,” the committee said.

The subcommittee has also recommended that agricultural products imported during its harvest season in the CNMI should be taxed in order to prevent unfair competition with local farmers.

It added that revenues that may be generated from the imposition of this import tax could be reserved and be used to assist local farmers affected by calamities.